Wednesday, July 30, 2014

So now is the time to start planning what you are going to carve starting in September. Is it going to be a big project or a number of small ones. Are you going to finish up all those carvings you started so long ago and never did pick up again?

I think that some of the carvings I put down and did not start again were put down because I did not have the skills to accomplish what I had set out to do. As I keep taking courses I find that when I pick up some of the old unfinished carvings it is easier now to finish them, if in fact I have not made some real grave error and gone beyond where the piece can be saved.

If the carving can't be saved make something smaller out of it or use it to heat the shop and roast up some marshmallows with the Grandkids.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

I hope you a all had a reasonable Summer. Only about a month left of school's out and than the more experienced people have the parks and holiday spots to themselves. Although in British Columbia the teachers are planning to extend the kids Summer break with continuing job action. Speaking of school, some our club members went down to Ellensburg, Washington for the Annual NorthWest Carving Academy. In total 8 of our club members went down to partake in various courses. To find out more about this school go to http://www.nwcarvingacademy.com The website should answer all your questions. This is the first year that I actually completed a carving from start to finish. It took a little extra work but it was worth the effort. Next year there is a whole new slate of things to do. My plan is to take another course from CCA Instructor Bob Travis and this is the carving that he plans to teach.

There are other instructors that will be attending in various styles. So check out the website and and plan next years vacation early.